TWO rival airlines have joined forces in a deal which will see more regular flights from Cardiff International Airport to Scotland and Ireland.

Budget airline Bmibaby and Welsh flag carrier Air Wales have signed an agreement covering routes between Cardiff and Glasgow (Prestwick), and Cardiff and Cork.

Both companies had been operating Cardiff to Cork flights and Bmibaby has been operating the Cardiff to Glasgow route.

Under the new agreement, which comes into effect on March 28, Air Wales will operate the flights on both routes using its fleet of l48-seater ATR aircraft.

In what is believed to be the first deal of its kind involving a low-cost carrier, Bmibaby will market and sell the flights online at bmibaby.com and via its reservations centre.

Passengers will continue to see low fares on both routes with internet fares starting from just #24.94 one way, including all taxes and charges. This will be in addition to an increase in the frequency of services and convenient departure times for business travellers.

The arrangement was made to enable an increase in frequency of the existing flight services through using the smaller, 48-seater aircraft that Air Wales currently operates. The move also means that both airlines will be able to increase their services from Cardiff International Airport in the future, including the introduction by Bmibaby of a third daily service between Cardiff and Edinburgh, and the re-introduction of Air Wales' summer service to Jersey.

Bmibaby is also understood to be considering further routes from Cardiff, including flights to Barcelona.

Tony Davis, managing director of Bmibaby, said, "The agreement between Bmibaby and Air Wales will enable passengers to benefit from even more services between Cardiff and both Glasgow and Cork.

"Bmibaby is providing marketing and sales support for these routes and Air Wales are providing the operational support in terms of staffing and aircraft.

"In addition to this agreement Bmibaby will be able to add a third daily service between Cardiff and Edinburgh to accommodate the overwhelming demand for seats, using one of our Boeing 737 aircraft.

"Bmibaby is committed to the development of our successful base in Cardiff and this agreement with Air Wales, which is a first for a UK low cost airline, will further strengthen our position."

Roy Thomas, chief executive of Air Wales, said he was delighted to have agreed the deal with Bmibaby.

"This is great news for business and leisure commuters as it will enable us to operate even more regular low-cost flights between Cardiff, Cork and Glasgow," he said.

"It's an agreement which will ensure that the travelling public gets the best service possible - an ethos which both airlines are committed to.

"The move will also allow us to further concentrate on developing our portfolio from Cardiff and Swansea. We are currently awaiting the arrival of a fifth ATR aircraft to add to our growing fleet, and we will soon be announcing our new summer schedules which will feature even more low cost and convenient services than ever before, including our popular summer Jersey service.

"We're delighted to have entered into this arrangement with Bmibaby and are confident that it will add value to the service that Air Wales offers to all of its customers."

The Assembly's Economic Development and Transport Minister Andrew Davies welcomed the move.

"This is an exciting time for the airline industry and air passengers providing greater choice," Mr Davies said.

"This deal will bring together services for the mutual benefit of both companies and provide more flights and enhanced services for passengers travelling for business or pleasure out of Cardiff International Airport. I am pleased to see their commitment to Wales that will help to strengthen their position."